Chris Godwin Among NFL’s Best
September 12th, 2021
Best slot receiver?
One of the great Bucs building blocks that happened at the right time helps demonstrate how so much has to go right in order for a team to win a Super Bowl.
Do the Bucs win a Super Bowl — or even with the game over the Cowboys Thursday night without receiver Chris Godwin? You could make an argument, no. And it all began indirectly because of Adam Humphries.
The former Bucs slot receiver and sometimes return man, had a lot of YAC his last two seasons with the Bucs and proved to be both a valuable asset and a key find as an undrafted free agent.
When the Bucs hired Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians, the very day he was presented, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said he was going to try everything in his power to re-sign Humphries.
But Arians, as it turned out, didn’t want him.
Not that Humphries was a bad player. But Arians craved speed at slot and Arians thought Godwin could be his next great slot receiver.
When Arians was the offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh, he moved Hines Ward to slot and Ward became a star, known as much for his ferocious blocking as his pass-catching, which was excellent.
Arriving in Arizona, Arians moved aging Larry Fitzgerald to slot and Fitz had a rebirth.
Arians did the same with Godwin and Godwin’s career has exploded. In fact, NextGen stats suggests Godwin is one of the best slot receivers in the NFL.
Chris Godwin was most productive from the inside of the formation, with 6 receptions for 78 yards and a TD on 11 targets aligned in the slot/tight.
Godwin has gained 1,571 yards on slot/tight targets since 2019, trailing just Darren Waller and Travis Kelce.#DALvsTB | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/aIBnU39ts3
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 10, 2021
That is heady company Godwin.
Now Godwin is in another contract year under the franchise tag. No matter where he ends up next season — hopefully he sticks around — Godwin will make serious bank. And he can thank Arians for setting him and his family up for life.
September 12th, 2021 at 10:06 am
Unrelated to this… Bucs played their first ever regular season game 45 years ago today in 1976. 20 – 0 loss to Houston Oilers. 25 more losses to follow…
September 12th, 2021 at 10:08 am
U gotta be a tuff S.O.B. to make a living in the middle of the defense. Especially a WR (it’s usually TE’s these days).
September 12th, 2021 at 10:41 am
BA purged this roster of a lot of mediocre players. I’m greatly appreciative!!!
September 12th, 2021 at 11:11 am
Glad we have Godwin in the slot!!! I just want to see more passes thrown to Evans he seems to be forgotten!!!
September 12th, 2021 at 11:16 am
Godwin can also thank Mike Evans for attracting most of the attention from DBs…..
As far as next year, IMO, Goswin will want much more than what Evans is making….thus making it very difficult to sign him. I think we’ll have to let him go.
September 12th, 2021 at 11:47 am
Godwin better start being more consistent in not only catching the ball but holding on to the ball on nationally televised games/playoffs. I think he lost some coinage late last year and again this past Thursday night by not being consistent.
September 12th, 2021 at 12:05 pm
It’s a good thing CG is not negotiating a new contract this week. I believe this week’s performance and last year’s playoff drops will cost him $10M per year.
It’s a good thing he’s got 19 more games to rinse this bad taste out of our mouths.
September 12th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Ghost … Yes Godwin had a fumble, and yes he dropped 2 catchable balls, but he still had a very good night despite that. Targeted 14 times and caught 9 of those (62.4%) for 105 yds; not that shabby IMO. And 45 of his yards came after the catch (YAC) and included Chris getting credit for breaking 2 tackles. Caught 1 of our 4 TDs & oh ya was responsible for 7 of our 22 first downs. For the first game of the season, that’s a pretty decent ballgame overall.